Respect community planning

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 6:42 p.m.

Henderson County commissioners did the right thing in tabling a rezoning request to allow a Dollar General store to be built at the corner of U.S. 64 and Banner Farm Road. If community planning efforts are to be respected, commissioners should deny the request.

The board voted unanimously Monday to table further action until the developer furnishes a traffic study, and to give commissioners time to study site plans more closely.

The Broadway Group, an Alabama-based commercial development company that represents Dollar General, wants the county to change the zoning of 1.71 acres next to Horse Shoe Baptist Church from rural residential to “community commercial conditional.” The 9,100-square-foot store would employ 10-12 people, said Melissa Ballard, due diligence coordinator for the developers.

Residents and leaders of Horse Shoe Baptist Church say a proposed driveway entrance on U.S. 64 just west of Banner Farm would pose traffic hazards. Church leaders also oppose the rezoning because of the potential for beer and wine sales, and concerns that break-ins might increase, said Marvin Metcalf, a church deacon.

Commissioner Tommy Thompson said he was not willing to vote on the request until he sees an engineering study looking at traffic volumes and timing, and whether a traffic signal would need to be moved and turn lanes installed.

The larger issue concerns the integrity of the county’s process for community-based planning. Residents have made it clear in the 2009 Etowah-Horse Shoe Community Plan, and at other times when rezoning has been proposed, that they want to retain the area’s rural, residential character.

“If someone wants to put a store in, put it inside an existing area that’s already zoned business,” said Fred Diehn, who lives near the intersection. “There’s plenty of vacant land.”

Commissioner Grady Hawkins noted Etowah and Horse Shoe residents spent a lot of time and effort coming up with a long-range plan. “The ink is barely dry on this 2010 update and we want to change it again,” he said. “I just can’t support that with what we’re looking at.”

The developers have so far been unable to find other parcels in the area that are for sale and fit their budget, Ballard said. They should keep looking. The store and the jobs it would provide would be a welcome addition to the community, but it should go in a spot already zoned for commercial use.

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The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is providing a public service with its Medication/Pill Drop Program, which starts April 13. Families often wonder what to do with unused medications when a loved one passes away. The drop box, located at the Sheriff’s Office at 100 N. King St., will provide a simple, secure, environmentally safe solution for people to dispose of unused prescription drugs (with the exception of needles and chemotherapy drugs, which won’t be accepted). The box will be located in the front lobby of the Sheriff’s Office, which is open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

<p>Henderson County commissioners did the right thing in tabling a rezoning request to allow a Dollar General store to be built at the corner of U.S. 64 and Banner Farm Road. If community planning efforts are to be respected, commissioners should deny the request.</p><p>The board voted unanimously Monday to table further action until the developer furnishes a traffic study, and to give commissioners time to study site plans more closely.</p><p>The Broadway Group, an Alabama-based commercial development company that represents Dollar General, wants the county to change the zoning of 1.71 acres next to Horse Shoe Baptist Church from rural residential to community commercial conditional. The 9,100-square-foot store would employ 10-12 people, said Melissa Ballard, due diligence coordinator for the developers.</p><p>Residents and leaders of Horse Shoe Baptist Church say a proposed driveway entrance on U.S. 64 just west of Banner Farm would pose traffic hazards. Church leaders also oppose the rezoning because of the potential for beer and wine sales, and concerns that break-ins might increase, said Marvin Metcalf, a church deacon.</p><p>Commissioner Tommy Thompson said he was not willing to vote on the request until he sees an engineering study looking at traffic volumes and timing, and whether a traffic signal would need to be moved and turn lanes installed.</p><p>The larger issue concerns the integrity of the county’s process for community-based planning. Residents have made it clear in the 2009 Etowah-Horse Shoe Community Plan, and at other times when rezoning has been proposed, that they want to retain the area’s rural, residential character.</p><p>If someone wants to put a store in, put it inside an existing area that’s already zoned business, said Fred Diehn, who lives near the intersection. There’s plenty of vacant land.</p><p>Commissioner Grady Hawkins noted Etowah and Horse Shoe residents spent a lot of time and effort coming up with a long-range plan. The ink is barely dry on this 2010 update and we want to change it again, he said. I just can’t support that with what we’re looking at.</p><p>The developers have so far been unable to find other parcels in the area that are for sale and fit their budget, Ballard said. They should keep looking. The store and the jobs it would provide would be a welcome addition to the community, but it should go in a spot already zoned for commercial use.</p><p>uuu</p><p>The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is providing a public service with its Medication/Pill Drop Program, which starts April 13. Families often wonder what to do with unused medications when a loved one passes away. The drop box, located at the Sheriff’s Office at 100 N. King St., will provide a simple, secure, environmentally safe solution for people to dispose of unused prescription drugs (with the exception of needles and chemotherapy drugs, which won’t be accepted). The box will be located in the front lobby of the Sheriff’s Office, which is open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.</p>